10 Movie Dads Who We Should All Remember In Honor Of Father’s Day

There are a number of father figures that a person will encounter throughout their life in addition to their own father’s and sometimes those can make just as much of a difference.

Whether it is a teacher, counselor, family friend, uncle, or even someone who is seen on the big screen, there are a variety of ways in which older men can have an influence on people.

Throughout the history of both TV and film, many fathers and grandfathers have been featured and they all deserve credit for the effect that they have had on people.

Here is a list of 10 film dads who should all be remembered for the impact that they have had:

Sam Dawson (Sean Penn, I Am Sam)

This is a great example of a good father figure because although he may not have the tools that everyone else does to raise his kids as a mentally handicapped man, he truly shows his love for his daughter. His character is loving and playful in a way that some fathers are not and he teaches his lawyer the value of love and family through the process of trying to gain custody of his daughter played by Dakota Fanning in the Oscar-nominated film. He tries to show that perhaps love is the most important thing when being a good father and does a great job in doing so.

Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams, Mrs. Doubtfire)

Although he is perhaps one of the most unorthodox dads in the history of film, Robin Williams’ character in Mrs. Doubtfire set the bar pretty high for all of the dads out there. It was a film that many people rewatched as kids seeing a man who was willing to dress up as an older woman and be the nanny to his kids as his only way to see them and hope to gain partial custody. He was able to connect with each of them in a different way than he did before, sharing a special bond that we all wish we could have and we will always treausre Robin Williams for the role.

Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase, Vacation Movies)

It was a character that we have been able to see over the years and whether the family is heading to Walley World or simply attempting to host the family for a Chrstimas dinner, nothing ever seems to go as planned. However, Clark Griswold will always do what he can to make his kids and the rest of his family happy and he is a great example of the kind of father that people often strive to be, although maybe a ltitle too enthusiastic about it at times. He likes to have fun and wants to lead a family filled with adventure, just like any other.

Chris Gardner (Will Smith, The Pursuit Of Happyness)

Although the film is based on a true story, the character was made famous by the film and is certainly worth noting when talking about great fathers on film. Chris Gardner’s story is an incredible one of determination and it shows that one father is willing to do anything in order to help his son and survive as a father and son team. He is desperate to find a job and support him and his son, but continues to be an amazing dad offering inspiring lines such as “Don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t do something.”

Jason “Furious” Styles (Laurence Fishburne, Boyz N The Hood)

He was the one good older male role model in the film in a neighborhood that was troubled and most young men didn’t know where to turn. The film centers around the inner-city gang problems of Los Angeles and one of the main characters, Tre, is lucky enough to have a father figure present. He teaches him to have the strength of character to know right from wrong and to always take responsilbity for his actions, mentioning that “anyone can make a baby, but only a real man can raise his children.”

Jim’s Dad (Eugene Levy, American Pie)

He was one of the supporting members of the American Pie franchise, but certainly one of the most important at times. He gave him pornography magazines, asked if he had any questions, and would always be the dad that Jim knew he could come to if he needed anything, even after walking on him fooling around with a pie. It’s not just any dad who is willing to drive their son to the hospital after they glue their hand to a particular private part and he provided some hilarious scenes throughout the American Pie movies.

Dad, Mason Sr. (Ethan Hawke, Boyhood)

Although he was gone for part of their childhood and was not married to their mom anymore, Ethan Hawke’s character in the film shows everyone what it means to be a great father. He shows great love for both of his kids and takes them out to do fun things such as bowling, camping, and much more, including giving advice to his son on history of rock music and the greatness of The Beatles. While watching the film, it is hard not to fall in love with the character and wish that he was your father as well after seeing all of the fun that he has with his kids.

Mac Maguff (J.K. Simmons, Juno)

While many dads would not know how to react or do it in completely the wrong way, Simmons’ character in Juno handles his teenage daughter’s pregnancy fairly well. He clearly freaks out at first, but he is supportive of her throughout much of the film and provides some great advice for his daughter years before his Oscar win for Whiplash. While the film made Ellen Page a star, his character was a big part of the film and had great lines such as “Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are.”

Ted Kramer (Dustin Hoffman, Kramer vs. Kramer)

The role of Ted Kramer was another role that showed what lengths one dad will go to in order to gain custody of their child. In the film, he must learn to care for his son on his own and then proceed to court where he hopes to gain custody in a battle with his ex-wife shortly after their divorce. Dustin Hoffman has had many great roles throughout his career, but this was a special one showing how he stepped up to embrace his role as a father and fought with all he had in order to take care of his son, earning an Oscar for the role along the way.

Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck, To Kill A Mockingbird)

It is one of the most iconic roles in film history based one of the best books of all time and of course it earned Gregory Peck an Oscar. He plays the character so well that the film is almost completely separate from the book and he teaches his two kids a number of valuable lessons. The plot of the film focuses around his character defending a black man who is accused of raping a white woman in the south, encountering a lynch mob along the way and teaching his kids about the importance of doing what is right, a great role model for kids everywhere.

Tobias Roth received his bachelor's degree in English with a concentration on Film Studies from Michigan State University. He loves movies, being outdoors and enjoys a good game of ultimate frisbee. He also has a passion for animals, the environment, and learning new things.